Hello!!!

merrittfam

Hatching
Apr 19, 2015
2
0
7
Hi, I'm so happy to have found this resource as our family of four is newly embarking on a chicken adventure. We recently acquired 4 laying hens and have ordered an additional 25 chicks for May 1st. As of day one all 4 hens have produced, I guess theyre happy in their new coop!
 
Congratulations! Those eggs were all in the pipeline when you got them. Expect a lull in egg production since stress of move temporarily stalls ovulation.

Do you have a plan on introduction of the new birds when they get large enough?
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! Most people recommend waiting until the younger birds are about the same size as the older ones and to have a long period of the two flocks being able to see each other but no touching... through wire seem to work best, ie dividing the coop into two sections or keeping the new/younger ones in a cage inside the coup for a couple of weeks to a month at least. The chickens will get to know each other and sort of work out a pecking order before actually coming in contact with each other. After a week or two, letting them free range together is a good idea and should help... It will take a couple of weeks to get the pecking order sorted out. There is a nice article in the Learning Center on integrating flocks you might like to check out, the part about actually combining them is after the quarantine section https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock
 
welcome-byc.gif


Glad you joined us!

Feel free to ask any questions you may have!

You may want to read this article: Advice for first time chicken owners
 
Glad you joined the flock. The Learning center contains a wealth of chicken information, as does the "Raising Backyard chickens," forum.
welcome-byc.gif
 
Hi there and welcome to BYC!
welcome-byc.gif


So glad you could join our flock! Congratulations on the beginning of your chicken adventures. I hope your 25 chicks all arrive safely! Getting new chickens can be so exciting and addicting.

Kelsie2290's given you some good advice on how to integrate chicks. I've never experienced any problems with just putting the group of young birds (12-14 weeks old or so) in with the older birds. There is some scuffling the first few days, but things all settle down in about a week. This may not work for everyone, but it has worked with me. My young birds have never been damaged by the older ones using that method. The important things to remember with all integration procedures are to mix birds of similar sizes (wait until the young ones approach the older birds' size) and to watch for severe fighting and bleeding (and intervene if you see these problems).

Welcome to our community and I hope you enjoy BYC as much as we do! Good luck with your flock.
smile.png
 
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Congrats on your new flock! The other members have given you great advice already.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom